Performance Without Toxicity is a new exhibition opening on January 26^th at the Fabrica X innovation gallery in King’s Cross, London, highlighting the technologies that are now redefining performance wear.

The global sportswear market, valued at over $206 billion in 2024 and set to hit $350 billion in 2032, is facing mounting pressure to move away from petroleum-based materials and the exhibition, organised by The Mills Fabrica, will showcase 38 innovators who collectively represent a roadmap for the move from ‘performance at any cost’ to performance with purpose.

Lead innovation partner is Goldwin, the Japanese technical outdoor and lifestyle apparel brand which is creating tangible products blending Japanese aesthetics with advanced functionality. Goldwin will display next-generation sports apparel based on Brewed Protein fibre developed by Spiber and PlaX, a plant-derived PLA from Bioworks, enhanced by the approximately 50% pattern-efficiency gains that are made possible by the algorithmic design technology of Synflux.

Performance Without Toxicity also features the designs from a growing global cohort of companies also advancing the shift to a clean, circular and regenerative future.

They include Hyosung, the world’s largest elastane producer, showcasing recycled, recyclable and bio-based solutions, and Balena, which will present its compostable, bio-based shoe created with Stella McCartney.

Lenzing and The Alliance for European Flax-Linen & Hemp will both demonstrate bio-renewable materials which are already available at commercial scale and the United Repair Centre will demonstrate its tech-enabled repair, remake and upcycling systems.

Vivobarefoot will further display the algae-derived foams, bio-based polymers and recycled natural fibres informing its regenerative business model while other companies featured will include Allbirds, Ambercycle, Beyond Future Technologies, Colorifix, Finisterre and Resortecs.

The exhibition will run until June 2026.

www.themillsfabrica.com